ACUC question

[Bogtrotter]

Does PADI or NAUI recognize the ACUC advanced o/w cert as their equivilent? That is, if I have an ACUC AOW will I be able to do the Rescue course with either NAUI or PADI? Thanks for any help.

 

[knotical]

PADI (and I assume NAUI) instructors should recognize the ACUC AOW course as equivalent.

One prerequisite for the PADI Rescue course is Adventure Diver, including the Navigation dive. Presumably the ACUC AOW course included navigation.
However, many instructors are unfamiliar with equivalents / other training agencies, so you might want to be prepared to show evidence that the course included a navigation dive.

And you might be asked to do a pre-assessment in accordance with the following from the PADI Instructor Manual:

You may accept divers with certifications through other training organizations into a PADI course using this general guideline, and after conducting a knowledge and skill preassessment.

n.b. for others reading this thread, ACUC is the American & Canadian Underwater Certifications agency, and they've been around for 40 years or so...

 

[Bogtrotter]

Thanks for the reply, yes there is a navigation component for ACUC Advanced Diver. Just musing here, but wouldn't it be easier if certifying agencies put the WRSCT or RSCT logo on their respective C-cards? (World Recreational Scuba Training Council - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Considering there are numerous legitimate agency's in various countries (other than PADI!), dive operators would have the WRSCT logo as additional assurance that the agency and holder meets international standards. I've even get the occasional double-take on my NAUI card for goodness sake.

 

[knotical]

Although WRSTC membership includes several of the larger certifying agencies, there are many exceptions, including notables such as NAUI, BSAC, CMAS, CEDIP, etc.

 

[Bogtrotter]

I don't think they would all have to be though. It might be a better way for the lesser known agencies, certainly outside of their own countries, to be accepted with less scrutiny. I imagine it would make things easier for dive operators not familiar with certifications from other countries as well. The operator would only have to recognize that one logo of the international umbrella Association as opposed to knowing all of these individually: RSTC Europe - Intro Espaniol and determining if they are legitimate or not. I know I've certainly never heard of some of them. Anyway.. I'm straying well away from my original post!

 

[grf88]

Course Standards for ACUC AOW are available here

 

[Edward3c]

Hi, In thr UK only 2 agencies hold the ISO Standard. BSAC and PADI.

 

[wedivebc]

I'm pretty sure ACUC is an RSTC member.

 

[Crush]

Does PADI or NAUI recognize the ACUC advanced o/w cert as their equivilent?

In my experience PADI, NAUI, and ACUC recognize one-another's certifications at "face value." This is not necessarily good for the ACUC diver who. If memory serves, my ACUC BOW allowed me to dive to 140 feet after I had completed 20 dives or 20 hours diving without the need for additional certification. Showing an ACUC BOW card to a PADI or NAUI dive op would cause them to limit your dive to their BOW standards, which is (if I recall) 60 or 80 feet - this is exactly what happenned to me when I showed up at a PADI dive up with an ACUC BOW card.

BTW - be sure to call ahead and tell them of your ACUC card so that they can check it out in advance and not hold you up from diving.

That is, if I have an ACUC AOW will I be able to do the Rescue course with either NAUI or PADI? Thanks for any help.

I did ACUC BOW, then went on to do AOW, SRD, and MSD with NAUI - no problem.

 

[SeaCobra]

NAUI does recognize ACUC